Local media reported that the student was a girl admitted to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton following a referral from a general practitioner.
Health officials are advising parents and schools to be aware of Strep A infections. The number of cases of Strep A infections has increased over the past month in England, especially after Covid-19 restrictions such as face masks and social distancing social were no longer mandatory.
So, what is invasive group A strep disease?
Invasive group strep disease is sometimes a life-threatening infection in which the bacteria has invaded a part of the body, such as the blood, deep muscles, or lungs.
The two most severe but rare forms of invasive disease are necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
Necrotizing fasciitis is also known as “flesh eating disease” and can occur when a wound becomes infected. Strep Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rapidly growing infection that causes low blood pressure/shock and damage to organs such as the kidneys, liver and lungs.
This type of toxic shock has a high mortality rate. England’s Health Safety Board, which confirmed the latest Strep A death, did not mention the child’s name, gender or age.
Although the infection is usually mild, however, 16 baby he has been dead since September of an extremely rare complication it can cause, called invasive group A strep (iGAS).
(SpA infection illustration. Photo: Illustration/Doc. Dailymail.co.uk)
Symptoms of strep A
iGAS complications occur when bacteria has invaded parts of the body such as the blood, deep muscles, or lungs. Infection with group A strep bacteria usually causes a sore throat (pain when swallowing), fever, rash, swollen tonsils and glands.
The disease is transmitted through physical contact or through droplets from sneezes, coughs and close contact.
In very rare cases, the infection can become invasive and enter parts of the body where the bacteria are not normally found, which can be serious.
The bacteria will produce poison, can enter the bloodstream and cause very serious disease. Some of these serious illnesses include sepsis, heart inflammation, and toxic shock with organ failure.
Experts fear that even the worst could come in the coming weeks. More than 650 cases of iGAS have been detected in the UK this season, of which around 60 were fatal.
This includes 170 cases among children, leading to 14 deaths. And two other iGAS deaths were recorded in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Need for antibiotics
The UK’s Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said an increase in invasive group A strep cases this year was mainly seen in children under the age of 10.
Antibiotics are usually effective for treating Strep A or iGAS infections. It’s just that now the government is having problems with the availability of these antibiotics. Also, until now, there is no vaccine available to prevent it.
(CAN)
